Recently, we discovered that Minecraft Pocket Edition's development had been shut down on Windows phone devices, leaving us with another dead service on the platform.

Thankfully, it turns out that Microsoft may have had other plans all along. On the Minecraft Pocket Edition subreddit, a user submitted a changelog for version 1.0.3 beta, which includes "Windows Phone 10" support.

As listed on reddit, the beta includes the following fixes, including the infamous item duplication exploit that very naughty people on the Windows Central Community Realm used (and subsequently corrupted the entire server with).

Bug Fixes:

Fixed an issue causing servers to blink between online and offline status

Fixed a Realms crash when a player exits

Fixed a crash when using some items

Fixed a server crash when a player entered a mutated biome

Fixed an issue that caused pressure plates, buttons, and other Redstone
components to become stuck

Fixed an issue with hoppers not ticking the proper order

Fixed an issue when destroying a door

Fixed an issue with item duplication

Fixed an issue allowing a player to incorrectly obtain End Gateway blocks

Observer block's arrows should now point in the direction of power

Observer blocks will no longer be placed upside-down

Fixed an issue where realms members that were not your friends were not
being displayed

Bats should spawn more often!

Fixed an issue with End Gateway textures on mobile devices

Fixed an issue where buttons & other redstone devices could get locked when
a redstone lamp activated.

Fixed some rendering geometry which created weird results

As noted, it does appear Minecraft Pocket Edition for Windows Phone 8 will be stuck in limbo henceforth, never to receive the Ender update or beyond. It does however appear that Minecraft will live on with Windows 10 Mobile, bringing it up to parity with its Windows 10 PC counterpart. This beta version is 1.0.3, the version we have on the Windows 10 Store for PC is currently 1.0.2.

The official Pocket Edition FAQ states that neither Windows Phone 8 or "Windows Phone 10" will receive the Ender update, but these patch notes appear to contradict that. Microsoft hasn't formerly announced Minecraft PE for Windows 10 Mobile yet, but we shouldn't have to wait long for confirmation, either way.

Minecraft Windows 10 Edition is currently on special offer too, pick it up using the download link below!

Sheesh that's good news. I literally bought Mineceaft PE today on my phone for the kids (and me 😁). It has taken me a while to get into it but I've been playing on the Xbox and now I thought I'd try it on mobile. Glad I got it on sale too 😀

Did anyone ever really doubt this would happen? I mean, come on! Of course there is going to be a UWP variant of Minecraft and it will be available to mobile and every other W10 variant other than IoT.

This is great news and something my son has been eagerly awaiting since you suggested in the past few podcasts that something could be happening. Thanks for the update and can't wait until he wakes up!

Not to be a Debby Downer, but they aren't even using the correct terminology for W10M. Considering the recent announcement of discontinued support, something just doesn't sound right here. Could they maybe have just failed to remove mention of "Windows Phone 10" from some recycled release notes?

Well, the other way to look at it is, since they just said they were no longer supporting the platform, you'd think they would make some sort of clarification statement about continuing support if that's what they are doing.

I'm not sure if the offer is still available, but when Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition was first available for purchase Microsoft allowed people to get the Windows 10 Edition for free if they owned the Java version.

I can confirm the offer still works the same way, I just bought a friend last week Minecraft PC/Java via one of the Gift Cards, and on his new account he still had the option to Redeem your free Windows 10 Beta Edition, and it worked fine.

I figured they would be adding it eventually. I'm just hoping someone can help me to recover my game save. It was lost after a backup while installing an OS update. Everything restored including Minecraft, but for some reason my game save was gone even though it was selected to be included in the backup.

...and what we all want but considering the fact that most of us actually spent money to buy it on Xbox, Windows 10 and Mobile....makes me wonder what will happen if it's merged as one with cross purchase ....play anywhere title.